APROPOS the above mentioned article (Oct 31). The writer’s statement: “How the discrimination against Hindus and Muslims was perpetuated by our historical heroes,” implies that societies are static and unchanging.

The prevailing paradigms of any society at a given time are the products of both history and culture. Those paradigms shift with time as historical events shape the world and the latter cannot be viewed from the prism of old paradigms.

Even though I never went to Aligarh Muslim University, I still feel grateful to Sir Syed for bringing a shift in the world view of Muslims of 200 years ago. The madressah education of that period could not provide the necessary skills then required to deal with a shifting economy and a social order that had been rent asunder. I feel Sir Syed wanted the Muslims to accept the reality of British rule and adapt to the changed circumstances.

The Hindu caste system was well established long before the arrival of the Muslims and the British in the sub-continent. However, the Muslims owing to their long sojourn of centuries and close interaction with the Hindus also acquired a caste system of their own.

The ashraaf-ajlaaf dichotomy among the Muslims of India runs parallel to (twice-born or otherwise castes) the four-fold divisions of Hindu society. Thus, discrimination against those who were not part of the four-fold system was fully entrenched.

The British proceeded to conquer the world and the Hindus and Muslims of the subcontinent ultimately lost their freedom to them. Sir Syed tried to awaken the Muslims to accept the change and move on.

Khwaja A. Hasan

Illinois, USA

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2017